Predicting future power level states for processor cores

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for providing power state change information from a plurality of cores of a processor to a predictor at a periodic interval and generating a prediction to indicate a predicted operation level of the cores during a next operating period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/001,159, filed Dec. 10, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,024,590 the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Power and thermal management are becoming more challenging than ever before in all segments of computer-based systems. While in the server domain, the cost of electricity drives the need for low power systems, in mobile systems battery life and thermal limitations make these issues relevant. Optimizing a system for maximum performance at minimum power consumption is usually done using the operating system (OS) to control hardware elements. Most modern OS's use the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standard, e.g., Rev. 3.0b, published Oct. 10, 2006, for optimizing the system in these areas. An ACPI implementation allows a core to be in different power-saving states (also termed low power or idle states) generally referred to as so-called C1 to Cn states.

When the core is active, it runs at a so-called C0 state, but when the core is idle, the OS tries to maintain a balance between the amount of power it can save and the overhead of entering and exiting to/from a given state. Thus C1 represents the low power state that has the least power savings but can be switched on and off almost immediately, while extended deep-low power states (e.g., C3) represent a power state where the static power consumption is negligible, but the time to enter into this state and respond to activity (i.e., back to C0) is quite long. Note that different processors may include differing numbers of core C-states, each mapping to one ACPI C-state. Multiple core C-states can map to the same ACPI C-state.

OS C-state policy has a number of drawbacks. First, it selects C-state based on historical central processing unit (CPU) utilization (i.e., C0 residency time). For a dynamic workload this decision is often wrong, resulting in either less power savings or large performance losses caused by wrongfully entering deep sleep states with long entry/exit latencies. Second, CPU utilization is sampled at a coarse granularity, e.g., 100 milliseconds (ms). Some transient opportunities such as an idle state lasting for hundreds of microseconds (μs) could be missed. For example, if the last 100 ms CPU utilization is 85%, the OS will use the C1 state. At this utilization level, dynamic server workloads still have many 100-500 μs long idle periods. Third, the policy does not consider activities of other cores in the same package. Since server workloads are typically multi-tasked and each task is short, if one core is in a deep sleep state and unable to service a task in time, other cores with a lighter load may be able to accommodate these tasks. Current approaches thus fail to extract additional power savings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prediction mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a filter method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a prediction method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments can accurately and in real time perform CPU power state pattern prediction (e.g., idle-busy patterns) and accordingly select a most appropriate power level state for cores of a processor package, maximizing power savings without any corresponding performance degradation. More specifically, a predictor to predict future active and idle power state residency may be provided. In one embodiment, the predictor may use a Kalman filter algorithm. Based on data from the package cores' active (i.e., C0 state) and lower power (i.e., non-zero C-state) residency, a prediction is computed. Then a decision for future C-state based on the prediction decision can be made at a predetermined interval. The data can include all C-state entry/exit events (i.e., for all package cores) during a monitor period. From this, an overlapping of idle cores in the same package can be computed. In one embodiment, the interval may be every 500 μs. Note that the C-states described herein are for an example processor such as an advanced Intel® Architecture 32 (IA-32) processor available from Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif., although embodiments can equally be used with other processors. Shown in Table 3 below is an example designation of core C-states available in one embodiment, and Table 4 maps these C-states to the corresponding ACPI states. However, understand that the scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard.

A most appropriate core C-state for the package to maximize power savings while not affecting performance, referred to herein as C*, is selected based on distribution of these patterns in the next interval. If the determined C* state is deeper than an OS C-state policy's decision (i.e., C^(OS) ^(—) ^(CoreX) for core X) for a given core, then it will be used as the destination C-state of that core when entering a low power state during the next interval.

Embodiments may be deployed in conjunction with OS C-state policy or in platform firmware with an interface to OS C-state policy. Various implementations may be realized on a per physical CPU package basis, without any hardware or user software changes. Embodiments may realize resulting power savings (e.g., on a quad-core processor) of up to 34% (or 8-9 Watts/package) in some implementations.

Referring now to FIG. 1, shown is a block diagram of a prediction mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, system 10 includes a processor package 20 having a plurality of processor cores 25 ₀-25 _(n-1) (generically core 25). The number of cores may vary in different implementations, from dual-core packages to many-core packages including potentially large numbers of cores. Each core 25 may include various logic and control structures to perform operations on data responsive to instructions. Depending on a given workload being undertaken within package 20, one or more cores 25 may not have active tasks to perform at a given time period. When a core 25 experiences a power state change event (e.g., a idling event, or an interrupt or break event such as a snoop transaction, an internal processor interrupt (IPI) or an external (e.g., input/output) interrupt if the core is already in an idle state), information may be provided from core 25 to an activity monitor 30, which may include a buffer to store time stamp information associated with this event. Note that in FIG. 1, the solid lines extending from each core 25 to activity monitor 30 (as well as the other solid lines) represent data flow for prediction operations. As will be described further below, the dashed lines in FIG. 1 represent control flow for controlling an activity state of the cores.

Activity monitor 30 may thus receive incoming data from the various cores 25 regarding their current activity levels. The buffer of activity monitor 30 may be arranged in various manners. In one embodiment, the buffer may be adapted to store for each core 25, an indication of a time stamp associated with each power state change event. Activity monitor 30 thus intercepts and time stamps the events in which CPU cores enter and exit a non-zero C-state. In one embodiment, the record is stored in a kernel buffer. Then, at predetermined intervals which, in one embodiment may be approximately 500 μs, activity monitor 30 provides monitored data to a predictor 35. This monitored data may thus include time stamp data as well as the activity state to indicate, during the interval of storage, how long each core was in a given state.

Predictor 35 may use this information to generate a pattern distribution for predicted core states for the next interval. While not limited in this regard, in one embodiment predictor 35 may execute a given prediction algorithm such as a Kalman filter algorithm to generate this pattern distribution. Furthermore, understand that the pattern distribution may vary widely, depending on a number of low power states supported, as well as a given number of cores, length of the prediction period and so forth. For ease of discussion, a pattern distribution including three different patterns will be described herein. However, it is to be understood the scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard and in different embodiments, more or fewer such patterns may be provided, e.g., with varying granularities as to a number of cores at a given activity level.

This pattern distribution information is thus provided from predictor 35 to a selector 40, which may select a most appropriate low power state for a given core, i.e., C*, based on the pattern distribution. In some embodiments, this C* value may be determined on a per core basis, while in other embodiments a single C* value may be determined for the entire package. Of course other granularities in between may also be realized. Selector 40 provides the C* value to a plurality of comparison logic 50 ₀-50 _(n-1) (generically comparison logic 50), each of which is associated with a given core 25. As shown in FIG. 1, each selection logic 50 is further adapted to receive a low power state decision, C_(os) _(—) core_(x), which is the OS C-state policy decision for a given core. Comparison logic 50 may be adapted to select the deeper of the two C-state decisions to provide to its associated core 25. While shown with this particular implementation in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard. In some embodiments, monitor 30, predictor 35, selector 40 and logic 50 all may be implemented using circuitry of package 20 such as a given core 25, executing software or firmware in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. However, other embodiments may be implemented in other locations such as a performance management unit (PMU) of a given platform.

In one embodiment, the following three patterns may be calculated to predict package activity: (1) PatternA: package is idle (all cores inside are idle); (2) PatternB: package is busy (all cores inside are busy); and (3) PatternC: package partial idle (remaining cases—at least one core is busy and at the same time at least one core is idle). This third pattern depicts an idle/busy overlapping scenario. Using the cores' entry/exit C-state time stamps which are available, the three pattern distribution prediction can be computed. An example output of a prediction in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Table 1, assuming a 500 μs interval period.

TABLE 1 % PatternA in next T1 25% (25% * 500 = 125 μs package in patternA) % PatternB in next T1 15% (15% * 500 = 75 μs package in patternB) % PatternC in next T1 60% (60% * 500 = 300 μs package in patternC)

Thus as shown in Table 1 for an interval period T1 an idle package pattern is predicted for 25% of the time (i.e., 125 μs), while all cores are predicted to be active for 15% of the time (i.e., 75 μs), and during the remaining 60% of the next prediction period, at least one core is active and at least one core idle (i.e., 300 μs). The manner of generating these pattern predictions may vary in different embodiments. In one embodiment, the predictions may use a Kalman filter, as will be discussed further below, however other implementations are possible.

Selector 40 then uses this prediction information to select a C* state for every core in the package. During the next timeslice (i.e., periodic interval), whenever a core is about to idle, the determined C* state is compared with the C-state decision made by the OS C-state policy, C^(OS) ^(—) ^(coreX). If C* is deeper than C^(OS) ^(—) ^(coreX), the core about to idle may be placed into this state. Otherwise, the OS C-state policy decision is used.

A Kalman filter model (KFM) models a partially observed stochastic process with linear dynamics and linear observations, both subject to Gaussian noise. It is an efficient recursive filter that estimates the state of a dynamic system from a series of incomplete and noisy measurements. Based on a KFM, the CPU package activity as set forth in a number of predetermined patterns (e.g., percentage of Patterns A, B and C) are considered the observations of a real number stochastic process discretised in the time domain, denoted by y_(1:t)=(y₁ . . . y_(t)). The hidden state of the process, x_(1:t)=(x₁ . . . x_(t)), is also represented as a vector of real numbers. The linear stochastic different equation in KFM is: x(t)=Ax(t−1)+w(t−1) p(w)˜N(0,Q) x(0)˜N(x ₁₁₀ ,V ₁₁₀)  [EQ. 1] And the measurement equation is: y(t)=Cx(t)+V(t) p(v)˜N(0,R)  [EQ. 2]

The n×n transition matrix A in the difference Equation 1 relates the state at the previous t−1 time step to the state at the current step t, in the absence of either a driving function or process noise. Here n is the number of hidden states. In our task, m=n is the number of possible CPU activity states. x₁₁₀,V₁₁₀ are the initial mean and variance of the state, Q is the system covariance for the transition dynamics noises, and R is the observation covariance for the observation noises. The transition of observation functions is the same for all time and the model is said to be time-invariant or homogeneous.

Using KFM, values can be predicted on the future time, given all the observations up to the present time. However, we are generally unsure about the future, and thus a best guess is computed, as well as a confidence level. Hence a probability distribution over the possible future observations is computed, denoted by P(Y_(t+h)=y|y_(1:t)), where k>0 is the horizon, i.e., how far into the future to predict.

Given the sequence of observed values (y₁-y_(t)), to predict the new observation value is to compute P(Y_(t+h)=y|y_(1:t)) for some horizon k>0 into the future. Equation 3 is the computation of a prediction about the future observations by marginalizing out the prediction of the future hidden state.

$\begin{matrix} {{P\left( {Y_{t + h} = {y❘y_{1:t}}} \right)} = {\sum\limits_{x}{{P\left( {Y_{t + h} = {{y❘X_{t + h}} = x}} \right)}{P\left( {X_{t + h} = {x❘y_{1:t}}} \right)}}}} & \left\lbrack {{EQ}.\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$ In the right part of the Equation, we compute P(X_(t+h)=x|y_(1:t)) by the algorithm of the fixed-lag smoothing, i.e., P(X_(t−L)=x|y_(1:t)), L>0, L is the lag. So before diving into the details of the algorithm, a fixed-lag smoothing in KFM is first introduced.

A fixed-lag Kalman smoother (FLKS) is an approach to perform retrospective data assimilation. It estimates the state of the past, given all the evidence up to the current time, i.e., P(X_(t−L)=x|y_(1:t)), L>0, where L is the lag, e.g., we might want to figure out whether a pipe broke L minutes ago given the current sensor readings. This is traditionally called “fixed-lag smoothing”, although the term “hindsight” might be more appropriate. In the offline case, this is called (fixed-interval) smoothing; this corresponds to computing P(X_(T−L)=x|y_(1:t)), T≧L≧1.

In the prediction algorithm, there are h more forward and backward passes. The computation of the passes is similar to that in the smoothing process. The only difference is that in the prediction step the initial value of the new observation is null, which means y_(1:T+h)=[y_(1:T) y_(null) ¹ . . . y_(null) ^(h)]. The prediction algorithm estimates the value of the y_(1:T+h)=[y_(1:T) y_(T+1) . . . y_(T+h)] by performing retrospective data assimilation on all the evidence up to the current time plus the y_(1:T+h)=[y_(1:T) y_(null) ¹ . . . y_(null) ^(h)]. In practice, we consider using the previous steps as the prior data, for example, if h=1, then y_(T+1)=(y_(T−1)+y_(T))/2 rather than y_(T+1)=null.

Table 2 shows the pseudo code of the prediction algorithm.

TABLE 2   function Predicting (y_(1:T), x_(1|0), V_(1|0), A, C, Q, R)  x_(0|0) = x_(1|0)  V_(0|0) = V_(1|0)  y_(T+1) = (y_(T−1)+y_(T))/2;  for t = 1:T+1   (x_(t|t), V_(t|t), L_(t)) = Fwd(y_(t), x_(t−1|t−1), V_(t−1|t−1), A, C, Q, R)  end  for t = T:−1:1   (x_(t|T), V_(t|T), V_(t−1,t|T)) = Back(x_(t+1|T), V_(t+1|T), x_(t|t),V_(t|t), A, Q)  end

In Table 2, Fwd and Back are the abstract operators. For each Fwd (forwards pass) operation of the first loop (for t=1:T), we firstly compute the inference mean and variance by x_(t|t−1)=Ax_(t−1|t−1) and V_(t|t−1)=AV_(t−1|t−1)A′+Q; then compute the error in the inference (the innovation), the variance of the error, the Kalman gain matrix, and the conditional log-likelihood of this observation by err_(t)=y_(t)−Cx_(t|t−1), S_(t)=CV_(t|t−1)C′+R, K_(t)=V_(t|t−1)C′S_(t) ⁻¹, and L_(t)=log(N(err_(t);0,S_(t)) respectively; finally we update the estimates of the mean and variance by x_(t|t)=x_(t|t−1)+K_(t)err_(t) and V_(t|t)=V_(t|t−1)−K_(t)S_(t)K_(t)′.

For each Back (backwards pass) operation of the second loop (for t=T−1:−1:1), at first we compute the inference quantities by x_(t+1|t)=Ax_(t|t) and V_(t+1|t)=AV_(t|t)A′+Q; then compute the smoother gain matrix by J_(t)=V_(t|t)A′V_(t+1|t) ⁻¹; finally we compute the estimates of the mean, variance, and cross variance by x_(t|T)=x_(t|t)+J_(t)(x_(t+1|T)−x_(t+1|t)), V_(t|T)=V_(t|t)+J_(t)(V_(t+1|T)−V_(t+1|t))J_(t)′, and V_(t−1,t|T)=J_(t−1)V_(t|T) respectively, which are known as the Rauch-Tung-Striebel (RTS) equations.

The computation as set forth in Table 2 can be complicated, e.g., there are matrix inversions in the T+1 step loop, when computing Kalman gain matrix in Fwd operator and the smoother gain matrix in Back operator. And the computational complexity will be O(TN³), where T is the number of history observations; N is the number of activity states, because for a general N*N matrix, Gaussian elimination for solving the matrix inverse leads to O(N³) complexity. However, in various embodiments the algorithm implementation can be simplified.

As shown in FIG. 2, which is a flow diagram of a prediction algorithm 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the forward and back operations can be computed for a predicted number of intervals (e.g., time slices T=1000) (block 110). Then the previous T step intermediate result of x and V can be cached (block 120), and just one step update of Fwd is made for the new coming time slice T+1 (block 130). Similarly, for the backwards pass, just one step Back operator for the T+1 time slice can be computed (block 140), using the cached previous T step intermediate results. Hence after the simplification, the computational complexity would be O(N³). Furthermore, the N=2^(N′) (N′ is the number of cores inside the same package) processor package activity states can be classified into 3 patterns: all idle, all busy and partial idle, and we use these three patterns to describe the states, so N would become only 3. On the other hand, we simplify the KFM and set A, C, Q, R and initial V as a diagonal matrix with the element values being 0 or 1, to reduce the operation complexity of the algorithm to O(N).

Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a flow diagram of a prediction method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, method 200 of FIG. 3 describes example operation of a system including at least two cores (core X and core Y) of a processor package that can enter into and exit from low power states based on tasks scheduled to these cores. As shown in FIG. 3, during operation activity monitor buffer 30 may receive various time stamp events from the cores. Specifically, assume that core X has no tasks enqueued and thus is ready to enter into a low power state, i.e., a non-zero C-state (block 210). Thus a time stamp event occurs and core X transmits this time stamp information, which may include a time stamp along with the given C-state, to activity monitor buffer 30 (block 215). Then core X may call an instruction such as a monitor wait (mwait) instruction to enter into the non-zero C-state (block 220).

Assume further that another core, i.e., core Y, is currently in a low power state. At block 230, core Y receives an interrupt or break-event to wake up. Thus at block 235, core Y sends a time stamp event to activity monitor buffer 30 to indicate that it is exiting the non-zero C-state. Thus core Y may execute incoming tasks at block 240.

At a regular interval, e.g., 500 microseconds, activity monitor buffer 30 provides its monitored data, which may include time stamp information as well as an indication of the associated activity states to predictor 35. Accordingly, at block 250 predictor 35 may compute a pattern distribution for a next interval. As described above, in some implementations three patterns may be used, although more or fewer patterns can be realized in other embodiments. This information from predictor 35 may then be provided to selector 40.

As described above, selector 40 may operate on a per core or per package basis. For ease of illustration, this discussion is directed to a per package computation. Specifically, at diamond 260 the selector may determine if the predicted time for operation of the package at an idle state (with all cores idle), such as according to a first pattern (e.g., pattern A), during the next interval is greater than a first threshold. In one embodiment, the threshold described in connection with FIG. 3 may be based on speculation of idle cores' headroom to accommodate other cores' tasks without affecting performance. While the scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard, the first threshold may correspond to a given percentage of time of the interval and in one embodiment may be 20%. If so, the C* state may be set equal to a first deep low power state (block 265). For example, in one embodiment this low power state may correspond to the C7 state or another deep low power state (e.g., a deepest low power state).

If instead the time predicted for operation with all cores idle is not greater than the first threshold, control may pass to diamond 270, where it may be determined whether the predicted time for operation of the package at an overlapping state of idle and active cores (at least one active and idle core), such as according to a second pattern (e.g., pattern C), during the next interval is greater than a second threshold. In one embodiment, the second threshold may be 30%. If so, the C* state may be set equal to a second deep low power state (block 275). For example, in one embodiment this deep low power state may correspond to the C6 state, or another such deep low power state, generally at a lesser deep low power state than defined at block 265.

Referring still to FIG. 3, if instead at diamond 270 it is determined that the predicted time for overlapping operation is not greater than the second threshold, control passes to diamond 280, where it may be determined whether the predicted time for overlapping operation of the package during the next interval is greater than a third threshold (which may correspond to 10%, in one embodiment). If so, control passes to block 275, where the C* state may be set equal to a third low power state. For example, in one embodiment this low power state may correspond to the C3 state or other such low power state (namely at a non-deep low power state and lower than the state defined in block 275). Otherwise, control passes to block 290, where the C* state may be set equal to a fourth low power state. For example, in one embodiment this low power state may correspond to the C1 state or other such low power state (namely at a low power state and lower than the state defined in block 285). While shown with this particular implementation in the embodiment of FIG. 3 for a processor with core C1, C3, C6, and C7 support, the scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard.

For purposes of example, Table 3 below shows such core C-states and their descriptions, along with the estimated power consumption in these states, with reference to an example processor having a thermal design power (TDP) of 130 watts (W). Of course it is to be understood that this is an example only, and embodiments are not limited in this regard.

TABLE 3 Description Estimated power consumption Core C0 All core logics active 26.7 W Core C1 Core clockgated  1.5 W Core C3 Core multi-level cache (MLC)   1 W flushed and invalidated Core C6 Core powergated 0.04 W Core C7 Core powergated and signals 0.04 W “package (pkg) last level cache (LLC) OK-to-shrink”

Table 4 shows an example mapping of core C-states of an example processor to the ACPI C-states. Again it is noted that this mapping is for example only and embodiments are not limited in this regard.

TABLE 4   Core C0 → ACPI C0 Core C1 → ACPI C1 Core C3 → ACPI C1 or C2 Core C6 → ACPI C2 or C3 Core C7 → ACPI C3

Thus using embodiments of the present invention, real-time monitoring of CPU core and package's overlapping busy-idle activities may be performed. Based on this information, an accurate prediction may be generated to predict future core and package activity levels, from which power saving states for the cores may be selected for maximum power saving based on the prediction results.

Embodiments may be implemented in many different system types. Referring now to FIG. 4, shown is a block diagram of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, multiprocessor system 500 is a point-to-point interconnect system, and includes a first processor 570 and a second processor 580 coupled via a point-to-point interconnect 550. As shown in FIG. 4, each of processors 570 and 580 may be multicore processors, including first and second processor cores (i.e., processor cores 574 a and 574 b and processor cores 584 a and 584 b), although additional cores may be present in the processors. Each processor core may be controlled to be in a lower of a determined C* state or an OS-provided C-state when it is idle. Each processor may further include hardware, software, firmware or combinations thereof to enable monitoring of utilization, and generating and using prediction information to enable determination of a C* state level for a next operation interval in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Still referring to FIG. 4, first processor 570 further includes a memory controller hub (MCH) 572 and point-to-point (P-P) interfaces 576 and 578. Similarly, second processor 580 includes a MCH 582 and P-P interfaces 586 and 588. As shown in FIG. 2, MCH's 572 and 582 couple the processors to respective memories, namely a memory 532 and a memory 534, which may be portions of main memory (e.g., a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)) locally attached to the respective processors. First processor 570 and second processor 580 may be coupled to a chipset 590 via P-P interconnects 552 and 554, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, chipset 590 includes P-P interfaces 594 and 598.

Furthermore, chipset 590 includes an interface 592 to couple chipset 590 with a high performance graphics engine 538, by a P-P interconnect 539. In turn, chipset 590 may be coupled to a first bus 516 via an interface 596. As shown in FIG. 4, various I/O devices 514 may be coupled to first bus 516, along with a bus bridge 518 which couples first bus 516 to a second bus 520. Various devices may be coupled to second bus 520 including, for example, a keyboard/mouse 522, communication devices 526 and a data storage unit 528 such as a disk drive or other mass storage device which may include code 530, in one embodiment. Further, an audio I/O 524 may be coupled to second bus 520.

Embodiments may be implemented in code and may be stored on a storage medium having stored thereon instructions which can be used to program a system to perform the instructions. The storage medium may include, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), compact disk rewritables (CD-RWs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor devices such as read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), static random access memories (SRAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), flash memories, electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing power state change information at a periodic interval from a plurality of cores of a processor to a predictor; computing a pattern distribution including a plurality of patterns based on the power state change information, each pattern to indicate a predicted operation level of the plurality of cores for a portion of a next operating period; and determining a low power state level for the processor for the next operating period based on the pattern distribution, and selecting the determined low power state level or an operating system (OS) power state level to be the power saving state for a first core of the plurality of cores when the first core is to idle during the next operating period.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the low power state level based on a comparison of at least one of the patterns to a corresponding one of a plurality of thresholds.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of patterns include a first pattern to indicate that all of the cores are idle, a second pattern to indicate that all of the cores are active, and a third pattern to indicate an overlapping operation with at least one core active and at least one core idle.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting the power saving state to be a first deep low power state if the first pattern is greater than a first threshold, otherwise selecting the power saving state to be a second low power state, the second low power state at a lesser level than the first deep low power state.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting the power saving state to be a second deep low power state if the third pattern is greater than a second threshold, otherwise selecting the power saving state to be a non-deep low power state.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the low power state level to the first core if it is a deeper low power level than the OS power state level, otherwise providing the OS power state level to the first core.
 7. The method of claim 2, further comprising using a Kalman filter to generate the pattern distribution.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the thresholds are based on speculation of idle core headroom to accommodate tasks.
 9. An apparatus comprising: a multicore processor including a plurality of cores; a predictor coupled to the multicore processor to predict a distribution of operation states for the plurality of cores during a next utilization cycle, based on power state change information for the plurality of cores during a current utilization cycle; and logic to receive the distribution and to determine a low power state for at least one core of the plurality of cores for the next utilization cycle, wherein the logic is to cause the at least one core to enter into the low power state if it is a lower power state than an operating system (OS) low power state when the at least one core is to idle during the next utilization cycle.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic is to select the low power state based on a comparison of at least one pattern of the distribution to a corresponding one of a plurality of thresholds.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the distribution includes a plurality of patterns including a first pattern to indicate that all of the cores are idle, a second pattern to indicate that all of the cores are active, and a third pattern to indicate an overlapping operation with at least one core active and at least one core idle.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an activity monitor to receive the power state change information for the plurality of cores.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the activity monitor includes a buffer to store time stamp information associated with power state change events of the plurality of cores.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a performance management unit including the activity monitor, the predictor and the logic.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic comprises circuitry of a core of the multicore processor that is to execute instructions to perform the low power state determination.
 16. An article comprising a non-transitory machine-accessible storage medium including instructions stored in the non-transitory machine-accessible storage medium that when executed by a processor of a system cause the system to: generate, in a predictor of the processor, prediction information including a prediction of an idle-busy pattern of the processor including a plurality of cores for a next operating period based on power state change information of the plurality of cores during a first operating period; determine, in a selector of the processor, a low power state for the plurality of the cores of the processor for the next operating period based at least in part on the idle-busy pattern; and cause, via a logic of the processor, a core to enter into the determined low power state corresponding to a lower of the low power state or an operating system (OS) low power state when the core is to idle during the next operating period.
 17. The article of claim 16, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to determine the low power state for the next operating period based on comparison of a prediction of the idle-busy pattern to a first threshold.
 18. The article of claim 17, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to set the low power state to be a first deep low power state if the prediction of the idle-busy pattern is greater than the first threshold, and set the low power state to be a second deep low power state if the prediction of the idle-busy pattern is greater than a second threshold, and otherwise set the low power state to be a non-deep low power state.
 19. The article of claim 16, wherein the power state change information includes time stamp information to indicate when a core enters an active state and time stamp information to indicate when a core enters an idle state. 